WRXB215

The USB-C port is for charging external devices such as a Cell Phone, etc.  

@LarryWRWH885 Take a screenshot like @WRXR255 did and post it. That will help debug. Also, smudge out the tones if they are not public.

Hello Sonicgott and welcome!
It would be better to start a new thread asking your question. You will likely get more answers.
Going directly to the battery helps avoid possible noise being picked up from other circuits. That is why it is recommended for radios even car stereo systems. Also a 50 watt radio needs more power than a cigarette lighter plug can provide so you have to make sure whatever circuit you use is rated high enough.

Updating the firmware is not the same as programing the radio for channels etc.

Your statement about losing 180  degrees of radiation is incorrect. An omni antenna has a larger lobe facing the ground plane and will still radiate in all directions. The increased radiation is from the opposite side of the radiation pattern.

Just my little $0.02 of an update.
According to the man that spec'd the KG-1000G with Wouxun, all of the GMRS rules & restrictions are burned into the firmware, and according to him, the radio cannot be unlocked.
 

Hi Mark,
I commend you for wanting to do things right.  Unless you are working as a “representative of a foreign government” I don’t know of any reason you couldn’t obtain a GMRS license.  It’s only $35 and it lasts for 10 years. The tallest hurdle will be navigating the FCC ULC system. Notarubicon has a guide that takes you through that step by step. I believe you need a U.S. address for a GMRS license.  It’s just a mailing address, not a transmitter location. https://www.notarubicon.com/how-to-get-a-gmrs-license-easy-guide-to-gmrs-licensing-on-the-fcc-website/

In general you register for an FRN first.  That definitely allows international addresses and there are 2244 Australians with FRNs already. Registering for an FRN is free.
Then you apply for the GMRS license using the FRN you just got.  It takes a separate step to pay for it.  Please don’t judge all of us in the USA by the FCC licensing system.  It’s terrible and we know it.
Hopefully you’ll also bring a dual band ham radio handheld.  There are a lot more ham radio repeaters across this country and as you probably already know amateur radio operators can operate in the amateur radio service in many countries they are visiting without needing to obtain that country’s ham license.  

Many people do operate without a GMRS license in the USA, but if I were doing that I would not provide an easily identifiable call sign for another service.  Choosing to disregard regulations is a personal choice and a lot of my friends do it, but they don’t complicate their situation by providing a ham call sign that can be traced.
I hope you have a great time in the USA. 
73 de AI7KS

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95/subpart-E/section-95.1705
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95/subpart-A/section-95.305

It only plays when you are trying to focus on doing some other work. 🤣

Firmware updates make me nervous. I take much time researching the issue before I do them. 
i have not yet bricked a radio, but that is my fear. 
 
My concern was not the hijacking of this thread but that a more focused thread will get more replies and information 

Okay, I figured it out.  All of the problems were because the frequency counter and CTCSS/DCS decoder functions were enabled.  I disabled that and everything started working fine.

@WSCF738 In my limited experience, the biggest benefit to more power is when trying to transmit through a bunch of thick trees. Now don't get me wrong, if you want more power, go for it. But if you are having trouble with perfect line of sight, there is likely another issue you need to be looking at besides more power.

Sorry, it was not my intention to highjack this thread. My comment about the GM-15 Pro was only meant as a general comment to back up Randy's comment about firmware updates.

I suggest you be careful getting answers to deep questions about a firmware update on the gm-15 pro in a thread about the TD-H3.
You are just not going to get the depth of responses from experiences users of the gm-15 pro, because, other than a few, why would they be here?
For example: I do not have a TD-H3 and am only here because reviewing "Unread Content" at this particular moment in time revealed:
 

@WSCF738 In my limited experience, the biggest benefit to more power is when trying to transmit through a bunch of thick trees. Now don't get me wrong, if you want more power, go for it. But if you are having trouble with perfect line of sight, there is likely another issue you need to be looking at besides more power.

The firmware updater runs only on Windows..  It *might* run via Parallels on your Mac.. But, it might not.. and I dont recall, but you may also be able to do it via the ODMaster app...
But... are you really sure you even need the firmware update? I usually avoid firmware updates unless it fixes something I actually care about.

I have been using CHIRP on a mac book m1 for about 3 months now.   Now this is on a wouxun kg1000 plus, but CHIRP supports a ton of radios.  You may try the manufacturers website first since there software may be more tightly aligned with your specific radio, than CHIRP.  I went with CHIRP since wouxun did not support mac m1.  So far all works.   try https://chirpmyradio.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Home .  best of luck
 
UPDATE:   You may end up using CHIRP, but only for programming.   Any firmware would be by the manufacturer of the radio

In your situation personally I wouldn't rely on radio. I carry a Garmin Inreach for places like that now as I rutinely work/play in areas with no cell. People can argue all they want about coverage but I've never had a message not go thru for giving an update to family or friends. For $15.00 a month I like the safety of it in my back pocket. 
 

My wife is to refer to me as El Conquistador when in public or on the air.

Heres a good start:
https://www.miklor.com/COM/Review_UV17proGPS.php
Specifically, this part:
GPS Capability
 
The UV-17 Pro GPS supports both GPS and BDS modes. The coordinates and elevation measurements are exact as expected. This includes location sharing between two UV17 Pro GPS radios. The UV17 Pro GPS also has the ability to send GPS coordinates between two radios.
 
 
Verify GPS capability
 
To verify that your radio has GPS, Menu 4 should display GNSS to select the GPS options. When GPS is turned ON, a long press of the Blue key in the upper right of the keypad will display the GPS screen.
 

@LarryWRWH885 Take a screenshot like @WRXR255 did and post it. That will help debug. Also, smudge out the tones if they are not public.

@WSCF738 just an FYI, propagation can be very different from what most repeater maps show. Typical repeater maps indicate a perfect circle when in fact, actual propagation looks more like this.

As you can see, there is a dead zone in the square with "Dallas" written. It extends from the lower left of the square upwards. Then you can also see areas of light green much further away than that.
Elevation, trees, houses, buildings, etc. all affect the actual propagation. This is why you can sometimes be closer and not get a signal but further and get a signal.

@WSCF738 just an FYI, propagation can be very different from what most repeater maps show. Typical repeater maps indicate a perfect circle when in fact, actual propagation looks more like this.

As you can see, there is a dead zone in the square with "Dallas" written. It extends from the lower left of the square upwards. Then you can also see areas of light green much further away than that.
Elevation, trees, houses, buildings, etc. all affect the actual propagation. This is why you can sometimes be closer and not get a signal but further and get a signal.

@LarryWRWH885 Take a screenshot like @WRXR255 did and post it. That will help debug. Also, smudge out the tones if they are not public.

If I'm on a handheld  and my wife is at home with a radio, I say "Mobile to base" after our call sign.
But, I'm old and set in my ways. Now, get off my lawn.